1. an American metalcore ba… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least three artists called ZAO:
1. an American metalcore band
2. a French zeuhl band
3. a Congolese zouk singer
1) Zao (pronounced /ˈzeɪ.oʊ/) is a band from Greensburg, Pennsylvania and are considered one of the founding metalcore groups. However they began in 1993 in Parkersburg, West Virginia, playing a style of metalcore similar to bands such as Earth Crisis and Snapcase. Zao has hosted several musicians and endured numerous roster changes to the point where no original members remain, often marked by the departure and readmission of multiple members. The band's catalog is often divided into two distinct eras, marked by a drastic shift in members that led to an equally drastic shift in sound. Most noticeably of these changes was the shift from vocalist Shaun Jonas who later formed Symphony in Peril to current front-man Dan Weyandt. Throughout the years, Zao has hosted many notable musicians such as guitarist Brett Detar of The Juliana Theory fame and current drummer Jeff Gretz who briefly played for From Autumn to Ashes. In the eyes of many fans, the "core" of Zao's sound was best exemplified by drummer Jesse Smith, guitarists Russ Cogdell and Scott Mellinger(formerly of Creation is Crucifixion), and vocalist Dan Weyandt. The current lineup is comprised of Russ, Scott, Dan, Jeff, and bass player and long time friend of the band, Martin Lunn.
To date, Zao has completed ten full-length albums, three EPs, a two-disc DVD documentary and multiple concert tours, garnering a limited but global fanbase and earning critical praise in the process.
2) ZAO was a French Zeuhl band, an early Magma offshoot founded by two ex-members of Magma: Yochk'o Seffer (saxophone, clarinet) and François Cahen (piano). They were active from 1971 to 1994 and released six studio albums. In 1976, Magma violinist Didier Lockwood also joined the band and appeared on their albums Kawana and Live!.
If one regards MAGMA as the central trunk of the Zeuhl tree, ZAO would be equivalent to an early side branch very close to the trunk. ZAO’s music, at least at the beginning of their career, is therefore an extension of MAGMA’s first era, with a light music, at times weird, with hints of jazz, contemporaneous music, Hungarian folk (Yochk’o is a native of Hungary) and obviously of Zeuhl. Nothing in common with the absolute incantatory power of “MDK” and “Kohntarkhosz” to which Yochk’o Seffer and François Cahen didn’t want to contribute.
On the first album, "Z = 7L" (1973), the very complex melodic instrumental layers are enriched with the wonderful voice of Mauricia Platon (with its Kobaïan accents), but unfortunately she was missing on the follow-up "Osiris" released in 1975.
ZAO will then break from its Zeuhl roots and the music will lean towards some jazz-rock fusion more and more debatable and debated.
"Shekina" (1975) augmented by the presence of a string quartet and "Kawana" (1976) remain respected albums of the French jazz-rock fusion scene but "Typhareth" (1976) recorded just after Yochk'o Seffer left the band is regarded as less successful. ZAO will then split but the members will gather anew in 1994 with the release of "Akhenaton" (once more jazz-fusion inflected), the album that saw the band reform but without any follow-up. It seems that the band planned to reform this year (2004) with the return of Yochk'o Seffer. To be continued ?
3) Zao (born as Casimir Zoba on 24 March 1953 in Brazzaville) is a Congolese Zouk singer, whose work is characterized by lyrics concerning taboo subjects in Congolese society with a humorous tone. He is most known for his 1984 song "Ancien combattant". "ZAO" stands for "Zéro-Admis-Omniprésent" (zero, allowed, omnipresent).
Resistance
Zao Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I won't let it happen.
This weakness will be strengthened.
Take away this battle.
Let our fire burn within.
Purify.
Purify.
I must surrender, must lay it down.
What's to gain in my selfishness?
What will I promote,
And what will be pushed back?
My hope must rise, strength come forward.
Linking my hand in.
I won't let it happen.
This weakness will be strengthened.
Take away this battle.
Let our fire burn within.
Purify.
Purify.
Don't release Your hand from me.
I must surrender, must lay it down.
What's to gain in my selfishness?
What will I promote,
And what will be pushed back?
My hope must rise, strength come forward.
Linking my hand in Yours,
Let Your chains uphold me.
I won't break the bond.
No more will I remain the same.
My God has ever loved Himself in me.
I am convinced.
I must stay
connected to Him and resist the temptation to give into weakness. The singer is determined not to let their flaws and failings overcome them, and instead seeks to purify themselves and strengthen their resolve. They acknowledge their need for surrender and the futility of selfishness, recognizing that only by linking their hand in God's can they find hope and strength.
The repeated phrase "Purify. Purify." emphasizes the importance of cleansing and purifying oneself, both physically and spiritually. The singer is asking for God to purify them, to remove anything that might hold them back or skew their perception. They are willing to lay down their weaknesses and allow themselves to be held up by God's chains, remaining connected to Him and not breaking the bond.
Overall, the song is a call to resistance against the temptation to give in to weakness and selfishness, and a recognition that true strength and hope can only be found through surrender and reliance on God's love and support.
Line by Line Meaning
I won't allow it.
The singer refuses to permit something to happen.
I won't let it happen.
The singer is determined to prevent something from occurring.
This weakness will be strengthened.
The singer is determined to overcome their own weakness and become stronger.
Take away this battle.
The artist wishes to be relieved of a difficult and challenging situation.
Let our fire burn within.
The artist wants their passion and intensity to be rekindled.
Purify.
The singer hopes to cleanse and refine themselves.
Don't release Your hand from me.
The singer is asking for divine help and guidance.
I must surrender, must lay it down.
The artist acknowledges that they must give up control and trust in a higher power.
What's to gain in my selfishness?
The artist questions the benefit of putting their own desires before others.
What will I promote,
The artist considers what values and ideas they will advocate for.
And what will be pushed back?
The singer anticipates resistance and obstacles in pursuing their goals.
My hope must rise, strength come forward.
The artist is determined to find inner strength and optimism.
Linking my hand in.
The singer is ready to join forces with others to achieve a common goal.
Let Your chains uphold me.
The singer relies on divine guidance and support.
I won't break the bond.
The singer is committed to staying connected to their faith and beliefs.
No more will I remain the same.
The artist is determined to make a change in their life.
My God has ever loved Himself in me.
The artist believes that a divine presence exists within them.
I am convinced.
The singer is certain and confident in their beliefs.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: WINSTON RODNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nimazsheik5152
Anyone else came here from Rageaholic's review of Cyberpunk? 🤘🎸
@dylanwade2020
Just did
@if-dhank8006
I bet you’re not even into metal 😍
@557deadpool
@@if-dhank8006 why tf do you care
@huludicidal
If you did then listen to the 1995 recording of this album instead. This one blows.
@tyrene11
my youth pastor was in the original zao group
@johnwilliams8130
Made those trips to the bible bookstore worth it
@GM_Steelhaven
Razorfist sent me here.
@mountainman889
Flash Flash Revolution memories
@Selaphane
Zao has had 21 different people in their band... I'd say that's a FUCKING lot, how they could disagree with that statement is beyond me...